Fear As China Set To Build Military Base 144km To Nigeria

 US Intelligent Report states that the Chinese government plans to establish a military base in Equatorial Guinea. 

U.S is wary of China having naval presence on the Atlantic Ocean which is the primary reason for Chinese government overture to Equatorial Guinea.

Note that the capital of Equatorial Guinea, Malabo is 144km to Calabar, Nigeria; 672km to Lekki, Lagos State Nigeria. Equatorial Guinea is one of the smallest countries in Africa with population estimated at 1.4 million. The country is located in the Central Africa in-between Cameroon and Gabon. It gained independence from the Spanish colonization in 1968.

Reports have it that the US deputy national Security Adviser, Jon Finer visited Equatorial Guinea in October and met the president of the country, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasog in a bid to foil the Chinese government planned establishment of the proposed military base.

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US Army Southern European Task Force, Maj. Gen. Andrew Rohling in an interview stated: “the concern is that the Chinese would develop a naval base in Equatorial Guinea, which would then give them naval presence on the Atlantic”.

Also, the US government is said to have been aware of the Chinese intention since 2019, during president Donald Trump's administration. However, it's Joe Biden's administration that has taken more drastic diplomatic measures to ensuring that Chinese government do not succeed in the military base establishment in Equatorial Guinea.

The Biden's administration provided the Equatorial Guinea with aids when not less than 100 persons died in the country resulting from explosion.

A top official of the Biden administration also revealed that the US government is not seeking that Equatorial  Guinea severs relationship with China but should ensure that it's unthreatening to the sovereignty of the country as well as the region.

The major concern, internally is what Chinese military presence portends for the African people, especially African countries hugely indebted to the Chinese government; which Nigeria occupies the front seat with a few other African countries.

It's believed that  Equatorial Guinea for a long time has been dependent on the Chinese government for military wares as well as economy; understandably why such a pact ( Chinese military base)  between the Chinese government and the Government of Equatorial Guinea was reached at ease.